Category Archives: Salvation

HE Is Waiting For You!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #495

28 Friday Sep 2018

Posted by in Salvation

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #495 HE Is Waiting For You!!!

 

“The Lord is not slack

concerning his promise,

as some men

count slackness;

but is longsuffering

to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come

to repentance.”   2 Peter 3:9-10 

Peter’s message of the coming of Jesus and the judgment of the world, is balanced with the loving, compassionate heart of God for the souls and lives of men, women, boys and girls. God has offered salvation to all who will come, and that means you and I dear friends; and if you are reading this and don’t know Jesus, I invite you to come to Him in repentance and faith—repentance of your own sin and going your own way, and looking to Jesus to save and deliver you from the penalty and power of sin.

While the judgment of God isn’t a fun or pleasant thing to talk about, it is imperative that we warn others of the coming judgment and the blessed hope that Jesus came to give to all who will believe in Him, and trust to His death, burial and resurrection as payment for sin. It’s the only payment for sin that will save; and it’s why Jesus came.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus saves us from our sin, from its penalty and its power!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”   John 3:14-16

The voice of God’s Holy Spirit, is calling today, and if you hear His voice, I encourage you to respond to that call, for our salvation is initiated by God—not us! Time is running short and we must consider our eternal destiny. Yet remember that even if you say, “I’m not making a choice.” you have made a choice—to reject the voice of God to your heart. Please open your heart to Him while you can. God is waiting for you, but HE won’t wait forever. (See Gen 6:3)

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,

call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.”   Isaiah 55:6-7

Is He calling to you? If you know Him, won’t you join me in praying for the conviction of The Holy Spirit to fall on those that we know and love, for all who need Jesus? He is calling—may we spread the good news everywhere we go?

“Behold, I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus died for you and me—we can choose to open that door or to ignore it. The choice is yours, but the consequence is eternal.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

So, have you heard His voice? He’s waiting for you to come.   Jesus came that you and I might have life—eternal life in heaven with Him, and abundant life in this world—here and now! Won’t you trust Him today?

“For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:17-19

Amen and Amen!

What Price Sacrifice??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #490

05 Wednesday Sep 2018

Posted by in Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, JESUS, Jesus' Sacrifice, Salvation

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs #490  What Price Sacrifice???

 

“This is my commandment,

That ye love one another,

as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life

for his friends.” John 15:12-13

As believers in and followers of Jesus, we are called to exercise His love toward others, and Jesus describes the greatest love that He was about to express and display before the world on Calvary: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”! But what Jesus did for those who will believe in Him was even more amazing than that—He not only made the ultimate sacrifice for those that HE loves (which is the world), but those that He loves are enemies of God steeped in sin. Yet HE came lovingly, willingly to sacrifice HIS life for us that we could be delivered from death and hell by HIS selfless, substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sinners with His own blood.

“For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.” Romans 5:6-11

We are the beneficiary of the ultimate sacrifice—not only that Jesus gave His life for me/you on the cross—but HE even more importantly, didn’t stay dead, HE AROSE victorious over death and hell too offer life to all who will believe. And because of His great love for us, we can go forward in His love regardless of the hate, meanness, confusion and malice going on around us. Knowing Jesus and having His indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to live victorious lives soaring above the storm with the Master. Isaiah said it best:

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings

as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 

Even as the picture in my dining room says: “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:” we can trust our lives, our hope, and our security to The One who died for us—and that is only JESUS my friends, not any movie star, sports star, politician or even any religious leader—only the blood of Jesus can impart abundant life! And when we know Him, as His children, we can declare with Job, that our confidence is in HIM not ourselves or any other human! After all only Jesus can change a ‘sinner’ into a ‘saint’ of God, and only Jesus can give us His Spirit to lead us, grow us, and guide us into more and more of His truth and grace, through His Word by His Spirit; all so that we can minister HIS love to a lost and dying world!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.” Job 13:15   Amen and Amen!

Yet we must remember that God often calls us to difficult tasks, and when he does HE is sufficient to guide our steps and meet our needs!

“Thou therefore gird up thy loins,

and arise,

and speak unto them

all that I command thee:

be not dismayed at their faces,

lest I confound thee before them.

18 For, behold, I have made thee this day

a defenced city,

and an iron pillar,

and brasen walls

against the whole land,

against the kings of Judah,

against the princes thereof,

against the priests thereof,

and against the people of the land.

19 And they shall fight against thee;

but they shall not prevail against thee;

for I am with thee,

saith the LORD,

to deliver thee.”   Jeremiah 1:17-19

Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet” because he was given a hard task, to a hard people, yet he went forth faithfully for some 40 years doing God’s work with little visible results! What has God asked you and me to do? Are we willing to make the sacrifice for The One who gave Himself for us? He IS the Only Way—The Lord Jesus Christ! Let’s seek His approval above all else, for:

“Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

I pray that this will help us all to keep our focus on Our Lord and not the confusion of the world, remembering The One who gave it all for our salvation, our life and our glory with HIM! HE is the only ONE who sacrificed for our salvation!

Amen and Amen. Blessings on your day!

What’s In Your Shaker??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 26

05 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Follow Jesus, He IS Alive!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

≈ 2 Comments

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 26 What’s In Your Shaker???

 

Ye are the salt of the earth: 

but if the salt have lost his savour, 

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing, 

but to be cast out, 

and to be trodden under foot of men. 

14 Ye are the light of the world. 

A city that is set on an hill 

cannot be hid. 

15 Neither do men light a candle, 

and put it under a bushel, 

but on a candlestick; 

and it giveth light

unto all 

that are in the house. 

16 Let your light so shine

before men, 

that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father 

which is in heaven.“” Matthew 5:13-16 

Jesus was teaching his disciples here, as well as the crowd that had gathered, and also those of us who will receive His words even now. He said that we are “the salt of the earth” as well as the “light of the world”. Salt and light are essentials of life, and when we receive “new life” in Jesus, through faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice, we receive His life and presence to dwell within us, and that is how as well as what we are to share with others. But we can only share with others what we ourselves have received!

“Moreover, brethren,

I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received…..”     1 Corinthians 15:1-3a

This is one of my favorite passages, for when you continue on, it gives us what I call ‘the Gospel in a nutshell’! Paul presents a clear and concise definition of Biblical salvation—only One way—Jesus: The One who saves. Paul clearly writes that ‘sin’ is the issue—and the only cure for sin is the blood of Jesus. But what I don’t want us to miss today is that Paul also reminds us that he isn’t creating this message but he is simply passing on “that which I also received”! We too, can only share what we have “received”! Yet when we have received it, and not “believed in vain”, the proof of our salvation is the manifestation of Jesus’ life in us—we will have HIS ‘salt’ in our shaker—the salt of being ‘born again’ by the Spirit of God!!! Paul also tells us that there is a “vain” faith—as I’ve been known to say, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!” The proof of our salvation isn’t just our words but our life. Our shaker will have Jesus’ salt coming out of our life, for according to Jesus, without the ‘savor’ salt is impotent.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not frui

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”    John 15:1-5

We need to be sure we have received Jesus’ redeeming grace and salvation, and that we aren’t depending on a pseudo salvation based on our works, ideas, or self-righteousness.

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”    2 Corinthians 13:5

Even as Paul warns, we need to be sure that we belong to Jesus, that we have been “born again”! Even as Jesus says in John, a branch can do nothing of itself. If you cut a branch off of a tree, it dies because it has no ‘life’ in itself apart from the tree. A tree produces branches and not vice-versa—Jesus gives life to those who are dead in sin (whether natural branches or those grafted in—See Romans 11, a lesson for another time), and that’s everyone, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Ro. 3:23)—“But God”—praise God HE has provided—LIFE!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”   Ephesians 2:1-5

The truth is we were all “dead in sins”, “But God” brings us to life in Jesus; He has “quickened us together with Christ” (‘quickened’ means to bring to life), and just as He raised Jesus from the dead, He quickens those who come to HIM in repentance and faith in Jesus The Lamb of God!

“For I delivered unto you

first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again

the third day

according to the scriptures:”    1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Jesus paid the price for sin, and salvation in HIM births us into the family of God, imparting His Holy Spirit to us as our indwelling “comforter” and guide—the One who empowers us to live a victorious life, a shaker full of Jesus’ salt and light! Using the “salt” in our shaker in a way that preserves purifies and provides ‘seasoning’ to those around us in need of The Savior.

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how

ye ought to answer

every man.” Colossians 4:5-6

We can know “how ye ought to answer every man” by The Holy Spirit who dwells within those who believe—because we not only have salt and light, but we ‘are’ “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”! Therefore we are to spread salt and light around in this dark and corrupted world by our very presence—sharing Jesus everywhere we go by the power of His Spirit, and the love of God, which has been imparted, to us. May we share what we have received—salvation in Jesus, peace with God, forgiveness of our sins–resulting in hope for the present and the future for ourselves and others, all because Jesus “died for the ungodly”—you and me! We ought to live a life that reflects the change that we have experienced by the blood of Jesus, manifesting His work in us, “being” the salt and light that God saves us to “BE” (not just do)! When we get the “being” right, the “doing” will come from Jesus—our source, our ‘savor’ and our ‘power’! All because of HIM!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory

of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died

for the ungodly.”   Romans 5:1-6

The Holy Ghost is imparted to each believer so we can live in the victory of these truths—the truth that when we live in the power of the cross, we can be salt and light in any situation and circumstance. Yet we must remember that light is supposed to shine, not be hidden, and salt is supposed to be “salty” not bland. But by the same token we aren’t to blind people with a ‘spot light’, or cause them to choke on brine! We are to live, shine and speak: “alway with grace, seasoned with salt”! And Jesus told us the very best way to reflect His glory and affect others is His love in us—coming out of that shaker!!!

“A new commandment I give unto you,

That ye love one another;

as I have loved you,

that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know

that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love one to another.”    John 13:34-35

So check your ‘shaker’ and be sure your source is Jesus, and then keep your shaker filled with HIS love, grace and truth, and spread it around—our world is in desperate need of Jesus!!!

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

Here Am I!!! Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBS #480

01 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Word, Trust God, What's In Your Mouth?, Witness

≈ 4 Comments

Bible Ballistics: BBs #480 Here Am I!!! Really???

 

“Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said,

Lo, this hath touched thy lips;

and thine iniquity is taken away,

and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I;

send me.” Isaiah 6:5-8

Isaiah had a total transformation when he encountered God, and while most of us don’t see God in His glory at our conversion, as Isaiah did, we do receive the indwelling Holy Spirit when we are born again, when we are “washed in the blood” of Jesus! So when we hear the voice of God asking for one to go “in His name” what is our response? And when we respond, what are we expecting? Sometimes we must face the reality that ministry isn’t simple, easy or even pleasant sometimes. Ministry is work—it’s serving God with our all, no matter the cost, the inconvenience or the difficulty—or the response!

When we respond to God’s call, it’s not always to the task that we expected, and we may not receive the response that we expected. I can imagine that Isaiah was surprised by God’s response to his volunteering. What about you and me? What is our response when God calls?

“And he said,

Go,

and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat,

and make their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and convert,

and be healed.

11 Then said I,

Lord, how long?

And he answered,

Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant,

and the houses without man,

and the land be utterly desolate,

12 And the LORD have removed men

far away,

and there be a great forsaking

in the midst of the land.” Isaiah 6:9-12 

God didn’t water down the difficulty of Isaiah’s task or the fact that he was being sent to a people who, God warned him, would not truly see, or hear, or understand the message, or the urgency of repentance and returning to God! And that he was being sent to preach this message until God’s judgment fell—because most wouldn’t heed. Not the fluff and ease that we often hear about today. Sadly the people of Isaiah’s day are much like the people around us today—they give God a measure of credence but they don’t really want to see Him, or hear His truth, or understand that “today is the day of salvation”—yet it’s as true today as it was those many years ago!

One of my favorite prophets is Jeremiah, and the call that he received from God was such a heart-breaking one, that he was later called the “weeping prophet” because of the hardness of the people and the grief that Jeremiah experienced as he preached with such broken-hearted passion to a people who didn’t want to hear his message. When God calls us, and sends us on a difficult mission, we are often surprised and disappointed to find it full of tears, grief and sorrow, where there is often no positive reception or response from the “masses”. Yet like Isaiah and Jeremiah, when we come face-to-face with Jesus, and the holiness, grace and awe of The Almighty God, it makes a change in our hearts and lives, and we too are empowered to do God’s work, God’s way—regardless of the outcome. The outcome is God’s job! We are called to sow (Plant and/or water, but God gives the increase!) —remember, the harvest belongs to God.

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing,

neither he that watereth;

but God that giveth the increase.”   1 Corinthians 3:7

“Then saith he unto his disciples,

The harvest truly is plenteous,

but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,

that he will send forth labourers

into his harvest.”   Matthew 9:37-38

God is: “Lord of the harvest”—it is “his harvest”! Jesus reminds us that our focus must be yielding to God as we say, “Here am I; send me”, remembering Jesus’ words:

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Amen and Amen!!!

May we each choose today to respond to God’s call, whatever it may be? May we each be ready and willing to respond as Isaiah and Jeremiah did, “Here am I; send me”!

May we remember the words of Jesus, and be aware of the hour:

“Say not ye,

There are yet four months,

and then cometh harvest?

behold, I say unto you,

Lift up your eyes,

and look on the fields;

for they are white already to harvest.”   John 4:35

And in closing I can’t help but think of a line from a song:

“My house is full, but My fields are empty…..who will go and work for Me today?….. it seems My children all want to stay around My table……but no one wants to work in My fields…..”                                                      (From “My House Is Full” by Lanny Wolfe.)

Cleanliness Is ________??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #479

25 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in Cleanliness?, Salvation

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs #479 Cleanliness Is_____???

 

“Wash me throughly

from mine iniquity,

and cleanse me

from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:

and my sin is ever before me……

7 Purge me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean:

wash me,

and I shall be whiter than snow.”  Psalm 51:2-3

While “cleanliness is next to godliness” is not in the scripture, we must have a clean and pure heart before God, yet the irony of it all is that we can’t have a clean heart unless it has been cleansed by faith in the saving work that Jesus accomplished with His blood at Calvary! Only God can cleanse and He will cleanse all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

Jesus spoke to the church at Laodicea with a message of warning (Just being ‘in’ church can’t save, but Jesus can!) and a call to repentance from their self-righteousness, and while He doesn’t use the word “cleanse”, He does call them to “clean up their act” by coming to Him, rather than themselves for salvation! Only when we recognize the fact that we can’t save ourselves will we seek the cleansing, saving power of Jesus, by His saving, atoning sacrifice.

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:17-18

The only way to “buy of me”, is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on the cross—He did it all for you and me.

This is what the prophet Isaiah was talking about long before the Messiah came—Jesus! You can remain in your sin and filth (God says ‘our’ righteousness/goodness is as ‘filthy rags’! Isaiah 64:6) or you can go to Jesus for a spiritual bath?

“Ho, every one that thirsteth,

come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money;

come ye, buy,

and eat;

yea, come,

buy wine

and milk

without money

and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money

for that which is not bread?

and your labour

for that which satisfieth not?

hearken diligently unto me,

and eat ye that which is good,

and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear,

and come unto me:

hear,

and your soul shall live;

and I will make an everlasting covenant

with you,

even the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:1-3

And Jesus, the son of David is the sure mercy and cleansing of God—

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said,

After me cometh a man

which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”

John 1:29-30

Jesus is that “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”—He took it to Calvary and paid the price for our cleansing before God! And when He saves, He cleanses! Even as He told Peter just before the cross:

“Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Jesus saith to him,

He that is washed

needeth not save to wash his feet,

but is clean every whit:

and ye are clean,

but not all.”   John 13:10

Are you clean? Jesus knows and He cares!